A private e-book reader for Android, macOS, Windows and Linux. Real page turns and fine typography. No ads, no accounts, no internet.
Each release has a download for every system. To update, install the new version over the old one: your library, progress and notes are kept.
- Android (8.0 or newer): download
ReadArea-x.y.z.apk, open it and tap Install. If Android asks, allow your browser or file manager to install unknown apps. If Play Protect warns, tap Scan app, or More details → Install anyway. - macOS: download the
.dmg(arm64for Apple silicon,x64for Intel) and drag ReadArea into Applications. If macOS can't check the app, right-click it and choose Open (only the first time). - Windows: download the
.msi(installs just for you, no administrator rights) or the-portable.zipto run from any folder. If you see Windows protected your PC, click More info → Run anyway. - Linux:
sudo apt install ./ReadArea-x.y.z-linux-x64.deb(Ubuntu, Debian, Mint),sudo dnf install ./ReadArea-x.y.z-linux-x64.rpm(Fedora, openSUSE), or unpack the.tar.gzand runReadArea/bin/ReadArea. Pick thelinux-arm64files on ARM computers. For read aloud, installespeak-ngorspeech-dispatcher.
On your phone: tap Find my books and allow access (or choose Add a folder or Open files). Tap a book to read, and tap the middle of a page for the menu. Close the app mid-book and it opens back on your page.
On a computer: add your book folders in Settings → Library folders (subfolders included, new books picked up automatically), or drop books onto the window. Double-click a book to read. Turn pages with the arrow keys, the space bar, a click on either side or by dragging a corner. Click the middle of the page or press Esc for the tools.
- Reads like a book: page curl (or slide, fade, scroll), themes from Paper to AMOLED black, your font, size and margins, and brightness with a warm light.
- Notes and tools: highlights in five colors, notes, bookmarks, search, footnote pop-ups, read aloud and hands-free page turning.
- Your library: real covers, shelves, favorites, ratings, filters, and reading stats with streaks and a daily goal.
- Big screens: two-page spreads on tablets, foldables and wide windows. On a computer, keyboard shortcuts, several books open at once and your system's voices for read aloud.
- Your language: 17 app languages, right-to-left books, and vertical Japanese and Chinese with furigana.
- Light: under 3 MB on Android.
Formats: EPUB, MOBI / AZW, FB2, PDF, Word (DOCX), LibreOffice (ODT), RTF, TXT, Markdown, HTML and comics (CBZ).
ReadArea never connects to the internet. There are no ads, no tracking and no accounts.
- It only reads files: on Android your whole storage if you use Find my books, otherwise just the folders you choose. Removing a book never deletes its file unless you tick the box.
- Your library, progress and notes stay on your device. On Android they're backed up only when the backup is end-to-end encrypted with your screen lock, and carried over when you move to a new phone.
- Books can't reach out: their pictures come only from the book itself, and links ask before they open. A damaged or malicious file just fails to open. See SECURITY.md.
Is it free? Yes, and open source under the MIT license.
A book won't open. Books bought from stores like Kindle or Kobo are usually DRM-protected, and no other reader can open those either.
Where are my notes? Only on your device. Export them from the Notes tab.
Can I change the language? Yes: Settings → App language. It follows your phone or computer by default.
How do I remove the desktop app completely? Uninstall it like any other app, then delete the data folder shown in Settings → Data folder: ~/Library/Application Support/ReadArea on macOS, %LOCALAPPDATA%\ReadArea on Windows, ~/.local/share/readarea on Linux.
You need JDK 21 (and the Android SDK for the phone app). ./gradlew :desktop:run starts the desktop app, ./gradlew :desktop:packageDesktop builds an installer for your system and ./gradlew :app:assembleDebug builds the Android app. More in docs/DEVELOPING.md.